‘Please stop the war in our street'

FRIGHTENED west Reading householders are calling on police and politicians to stop their street being turned into a "war zone".

People living in Beresford Road have spoken out after a potentially lethal ball bearing (BB) gun was fired at a passing car and a man taken to hospital with knife wounds on Tuesday evening.

Neighbours demanded action from the police and MP Martin Salter because they fear these incidents are a continuation of a turf war over drug dealing they complained about more than nine months ago.

But police have called for calm because they believe the fight, which involved around 20 people, was over a young woman.

Trouble started at 9.20pm when a BB gun was fired repeatedly through the window of a VW Golf. A passenger in the car was then slashed with a knife and later received six stitches to the back of his head and a hand.

Nine months ago police tried to calm tensions after two shootings in Caversham and Oxford Road, connected to rising tensions over gangs drug dealing in the area, by stationing a van in Beresford Road.

One mum, who was too frightened to be named, said: "Drug dealers are going to turn the area into a war zone unless something is done about it soon. It happens every night - fighting and drug dealing.

"I have young children I don't want them to grow up round here because of this but I can't afford to move. We need help."

Another householder added: "I believe it is something to do with the drugs. The residents are scared, very, very scared.

"It's gone far enough.

"Authorities saying they are concerned is not the bottom line. The bottom line is that it's got to stop before someone is killed."

Another woman, too scared to be identified, said gangs were "definitely involved" and said it was "almost tribal".

"It's the same every night, they make their drugs drop at 11 and the fighting doesn't quieten down until three in the morning," she said.

Sector Inspector Dave Parker, said the shooting was not drug-related before urging people to come to the police with allegations of drug dealing.

He said: "Early indications point towards the cause of the incident being an argument over a local girl. Everyone we have spoken to has assured us it is not drug related."

He added: "If there are problems with drugs in the area people have got to tell the police. They can call Crimestoppers in confidence or even go to the police shop on the Oxford Road."

Martin Salter said he was concerned to learn of the upsurge of violence in Beresford Road, but also called for calm.

He said: "While we have had problems with drug gangs in the area in the past, I have been

reassured by the police that this was a dispute over a girlfriend and not a repetition of some of the gang-related violence that we have seen in the area last year.

"Nevertheless it is still a horrendous assault and I regret very much that things like this are still happening on the streets of Reading.

He added: "I am always happy to attend a meeting with my constituents."

In March Mr Salter joined police in urging Beresford Road householders to blow the whistle on drug dealers and gun owners, but they had little response.

Five men arrested in connection with the incident have been released on bail.

The five - two aged 19 and the others 18, 22 and 23 - were detained on suspicion of possessing a firearm and causing grievous bodily harm.